Sutera Plant Named &#39;DCOPGULPNK&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Sutera cultivar named ‘DCOPGULPNK’ is disclosed, characterized by early and abundant flowering, extra-large pink flowers, medium plant vigor and a semi-trailing growth habit. The new variety is a Sutera, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Sutera cordata.

Variety denomination: ‘DCOPGULPNK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Sutera varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during April of 2014.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Sutera ‘cv. 13-2911’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in January 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2014 open pollination, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by terminal vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in February of 2015 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 20 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DCOPGULPNK’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DCOPGULPNK’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DCOPGULPNK’ as a new and distinct Sutera cultivar:

-   -   1. Semi-trailing growth habit.     -   2. Extra-large, pink flowers.     -   3. Branched.     -   4. Early, abundant flowering.     -   5. Medium vigor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPGULPNK’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Sutera ‘cv. 13-2911’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPGULPNK’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. New variety has a semi-trailing growth habit; seed parent has         a trailing growth habit.     -   2. New variety has extra-large pink flowers; seed parent has         medium-sized light pink flowers.     -   3. New variety is very branched; seed parent is medium branched.     -   4. New variety has early, abundant flowering; seed parent has         early, medium quantity of flowering.     -   5. New variety has a medium vigor; seed parent has a strong         vigor.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPGULPNK’ are comparable to the commercial variety Sutera ‘DANCOP27’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,782. The two Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DCOPGULPNK’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Comparison variety has light pink flowers with a violet         center, whereas new variety has pink flowers.     -   2. Comparison variety is very branched whereas new variety is         less branched.     -   3. Comparison variety has large flowers whereas new variety has         extra large flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPGULPNK’ can also be comparable to the unpatented commercial variety ‘DANCOP102’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,521. The two Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DCOPGULPNK’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Comparison variety has white flowers whereas new variety has         pink flowers.     -   2. Comparison variety has longer branches and more elongated         growth habit than the new variety.     -   3. Comparison variety has strong vigor whereas new variety has         medium vigor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DCOPGULPNK’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months old from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of a typical flower. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DCOPGULPNK’ plants grown in the Winter to Spring in moderate climate in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 16° C. during the night. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘DCOPGULPNK’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Terminal vegetative             cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—7 to 10 days at approximately 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous roots. Light tan in color,             not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 3 months from rooted             cutting.         -   Container size of the plant described.—13 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing.         -   Height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant spread.—About 55 cm.         -   Growth rate.13 Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—About 30 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—About 0.2 cm.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—About 8.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form:             Cylindrical. Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green             146 A. Texture: Velvety. Strength: Good.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite, petiolate. Quantity:             Approximately 70 per branch. Average Length: 2.8 cm. Average             Width: 2.5 cm. Shape of blade: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base:             Acuminate. Margin: Serrate. Texture of top surface: Velvety.             Pubescence: Slightly pubescent. Aspect: About 90° to the             branch. Color: Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 B.             Young foliage under side: RHS Green 137 C. Mature foliage             upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 A. Mature foliage under             side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 B. Venation: Type: Pinnate.             Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 A. Venation             color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 C. Petiole: Length:             About 0.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: RHS             Yellow-Green 147 A. Texture: Slightly velvety. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—About 45.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, solitary,             salverform single flowers.         -   Rate of flower opening.—3 to 5 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About 7 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Bud.—Shape: Spatulate. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             0.6 cm. Color: RHS Purple 75 A.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.7 cm. Length: About 1.5 cm.             Corolla tube diameter: About 0.4 cm.         -   Corolla/petals.—Arrangement: Symmetric. Lobe Length: About             1.2 cm. Lobe Width: About 1.0 cm. Quantity: 5. Texture:             Velvety. Lobe Apex: Rounded. Lobe shape: Rounded. Margin:             Entire. Aspect: About 90° to the tube. Color: When opening:             Upper surface: RHS Purple-Violet N 80 B. With a Purple             center, RHS Purple-Violet N 80 A. Lower surface: RHS Purple             76 C. Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS Purple N 78 C. Lower             surface: RHS Purple N78 D. Visible Corolla tube color: RHS             Yellow-Orange 23 A.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Linear. Length:             About 0.6 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Slightly velvety. Color: Upper             Surface: RHS Green 137 B. Lower Surface: RHS Green 137 B.         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147 B.             Orientation: Slanted upward and outward. Pubescence:             Slightly pubescent.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4. Filament length: Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: Approximately 0.2 cm.             Color: RHS Yellow 11 A. Pollen: Color: RHS Yellow 13 A.             Quantity: Sparse.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1. Length: About 1.1 cm. Style: Length:             About 0.8 cm. Color: RHS Yellow Green — 150 B. Stigma:             Shape: Undulate. Color: RHS Yellow Green — 150 A. Ovary             Color: RHS Green 143 C. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 40 elliptic, small (1 mm long) brown             seeds per one elliptic Brown capsule.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Sutera have             been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures between 5 to 40 ° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named ‘DCOPGULPNK’ as herein illustrated and described. 